The queens of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ talk politics

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Though this season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” was the first to feature a political competition — “Frock The Vote” — and RuPaul himself even journeyed to New Hampshire during primary season to declare himself a “one-issue candidate,” the show, like many of its reality competitors, shied away from most political proselytizing over the course of the season.

The two notable exceptions, however, were the producers’ willingness to air footage over several episodes in which the competitors discussed being bullied as kids and the occasional mention of marriage equality. Even competitor Latrice Royale, whose campaign during “Frock The Vote” was supposed to focus on AIDS policy, didn’t end up with much opportunity to expand on her platform.

That ended last night, as I sat down with Sharon Needles, Chad Michaels, Phi Phi O’Hara, Willam Belli, Latrice Royale and Madame LaQueer to talk about some of their pet issues, from marriage equality to prison reform to immigration. (The Princess also spoke to me about the importance of marriage equality and her disbelief that politicians are fighting against birth control and reproductive rights, but the footage didn’t come out.)

Watch the video below:

UPDATE: NewNowNext.com has video from the students at a NYC LGBT Youth Center talking about what seeing the finalists perform meant to them.

[Photograph by Megan Carpentier]